Paper/Proposal Title
Why so Pessimistic about Human Rights?
Location
River Campus - Room M2080
Start Date
10-4-2013 3:15 PM
Abstract
Many will readily acknowledge there being rights of humans which trump the rights of states. Thus, these rights are aptly labeled ‘Human Rights,’ by which we may measure and admonish state-conduct. However, in contemporary Human Rights discourse, there is an emerging strand of thought in the academy that is Anti-Human Rights. That is, it is argued that Human Rights endeavors stem from either naïve, misguided, or downright malicious aims. To understand the foundations of Anti-Human Rights discourse, and to address the arguments that have been put forth, I analyze and incorporate the works of John O. Nelson, Raymond Geuss, Wendy Brown, and Slavoj Žižek. Based on the same, I have found that the core arguments to these assertions are at best unpersuasive, or worse, meritless. Thus, this endeavor has allowed me to rediscover even more dedication to Human Rights causes within me, to see the justification of Human Rights in different terms, and, to argue for same by others in both acknowledging the legitimacy of Human Rights, and abandoning the search for justifications in nature, U.S. Foreign Policy, or Neo- Marxist views. In so doing, I have discovered why Human Rights endeavors are justified to me, and I argue that it ought to appear justified to others.
Why so Pessimistic about Human Rights?
River Campus - Room M2080
Many will readily acknowledge there being rights of humans which trump the rights of states. Thus, these rights are aptly labeled ‘Human Rights,’ by which we may measure and admonish state-conduct. However, in contemporary Human Rights discourse, there is an emerging strand of thought in the academy that is Anti-Human Rights. That is, it is argued that Human Rights endeavors stem from either naïve, misguided, or downright malicious aims. To understand the foundations of Anti-Human Rights discourse, and to address the arguments that have been put forth, I analyze and incorporate the works of John O. Nelson, Raymond Geuss, Wendy Brown, and Slavoj Žižek. Based on the same, I have found that the core arguments to these assertions are at best unpersuasive, or worse, meritless. Thus, this endeavor has allowed me to rediscover even more dedication to Human Rights causes within me, to see the justification of Human Rights in different terms, and, to argue for same by others in both acknowledging the legitimacy of Human Rights, and abandoning the search for justifications in nature, U.S. Foreign Policy, or Neo- Marxist views. In so doing, I have discovered why Human Rights endeavors are justified to me, and I argue that it ought to appear justified to others.
Comments
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